In the midst of Tennessee State University's homecoming celebrations on Saturday, October 12, 2024, a burst of gunfire erupted near the intersection of Jefferson Street and 27th Avenue North in Nashville. When the shooting subsided, ten people were left injured, and one man, 24-year-old Vonquae Johnson, lay fatally wounded. Emergency services transported five of the victims to local hospitals, while another five arrived by private vehicles.
Johnson was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. The shooting sent shockwaves through the community, disrupting what should have been a joyous occasion.
The investigation that followed painted a grim picture of a violent exchange between two rival groups affiliated with local gangs. Authorities determined that five men had indiscriminately fired at each other in a parking lot and on the street, with little regard for the crowd of bystanders. Among the shooters was Vonquae Johnson himself, who was there with two associates, Corey D. Johnson and Kiyahn Hayes-Woods. Their rivals, Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, were identified as the other alleged shooters.
In the days and weeks that followed, law enforcement made a series of arrests. On October 14, just two days after the fatal shooting, Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown, both 24, were taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide for their roles in Vonquae Johnson's death. Davis also faced a federal charge for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The investigation continued, and on November 6, the final two suspects were apprehended. Corey D. Johnson, 31, and Kiyahn Hayes-Woods, 23, were arrested without incident. Hayes-Woods was allegedly found with a semi-automatic pistol at the time of his arrest. Corey D. Johnson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony reckless endangerment, while Hayes-Woods faced charges of felony reckless endangerment and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon. Security footage presented in court reportedly showed Davis and Brown initiating the shootout that led to the tragic death of Vonquae Johnson.
